Our gratuities and alcohol consumed at the table service meals totaled $243.07. In addition, we consumed snacks in excess of the meal plan allowance totaling $167.80. We bought two mugs for $32.99. Since we only had 6 TS credits we would have had to pay two meals OOP (HDDR consumes 2 TS each). The cheapest 2 TS meals were roughly $250 combined.

So with the meal plan our cost would have been $2334.78 + 243.07 + 167.80 + 250 - $32.99 or $2,962.66.

Our actual OOP cost for the week was $2,427.19

Cash savings of $535.47

We ordered whatever we wanted and snacked whenever we wanted. And the savings is actually greater because I didn't analyze the non-alcoholic drinks like Wild Berry Foam Lemonade that we ordered here and there that isn't included as a meal plan beverage. Probably ordered at least $40 of those suckers so let's say the savings is $325.

I see some do their own math and the two totals are closer and they say that they like the convenience of the meal plan so they will just pay for the DDP anyway even if the math shows it is more.

We've done the DDP (when it was free) and our experience is the exact opposite - it was SO much more convenient to just order off the menu whatever you wanted and not have to sort out what credits were being used where and if there was a more efficient way of paying etc.

Our gratuities and alcohol consumed at the table service meals totaled $243.07. In addition, we consumed snacks in excess of the meal plan allowance totaling $167.80. We bought two mugs for $32.99.

So with the meal plan our cost would have been $2334.78 + 243.07 + 167.80 - $32.99 or $2,712.66.

Our actual OOP cost for the week was $2,427.19

Cash savings of $285.47

We ordered whatever we wanted and snacked whenever we wanted. And the savings is actually greater because I didn't analyze the non-alcoholic drinks like Wild Berry Foam Lemonade that we ordered here and there that isn't included as a meal plan beverage. Probably ordered at least $40 of those suckers so let's say the savings is $325.

I see some do their own math and the two totals are closer and they say that they like the convenience of the meal plan so they will just pay for the DDP anyway even if the math shows it is more.

We've done the DDP (when it was free) and our experience is the exact opposite - it was SO much more convenient to just order off the menu whatever you wanted and not have to sort out what credits were being used where and if there was a more efficient way of paying etc.

I offer all of this as food for thought.

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Actually your savings are quite a bit more. DDP is based on nights, so you would have had 6 table-service meals each. The Hoop-do-Doo is 2 TS credits, so you would have to pay for that one OOP or 2 other TS meals OOP in addition to your total you have named.

Actually your savings are quite a bit more. DDP is based on nights, so you would have had 6 table-service meals each. The Hoop-do-Doo is 2 TS credits, so you would have to pay for that one OOP or 2 other TS meals OOP in addition to your total you have named.

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By George you are correct!

Our cheapest 2 TS meals were Tonys and 50s Prime Time. Those would have been OOP and cost roughly $250 net of tip.

So total cash savings is $535! Edited above.

I'm not saying the DDP can't work in your favor ever, but it is a rarity.

I definitely agree that DDP is more convenient from the standpoint that you don't have to really think about money or spending (outside of an extra snack or a quick little breakfast on the way out to the parks).

For us, DDP, even if free doesn't work as 2 adults. The way we like to eat isn't conducive to the contstraints of DDP. Have we done it in the past? Yes. Would I consider it when LO gets older and we want to do character breakfasts with her. Definitely. But at the present time, doesn't work for us OOP.

And yes, FD is a completely different story. It makes me want to research based on a family of X number kids and adults staying at X level resort, what the actual % shakes out to be. A project for this afternoon!

We've used DDP 8 times and it has never worked in our favor except the first time when it was free and when they included an appetizer and gratuity. Those were the days. We still like it though. We never get desert even on the plan, so that's part of the problem. When we stay offsite we also spend a lot less on food.

We've done the DDP twice and while yes, we saved on what we would have spent paying for the exact same meals OOP we probably wouldn't order that much food if we weren't on the plan. That being said, we are two adults with no kids and so we enjoy being able to say 'well if I must order dessert then I'll have the cheesecake.' ;-). It works for us at the moment but if we have kids it will probably be something we give up on our trips. Counter service would be quicker and cheaper with kids and we could just pay OOP for any TS we want.

I was surprised to log on this morning and see this thread! I just got back from WDW on Saturday and spent an hour this morning totaling up our meals and snacks to see if it we "broke even" or not.

We were there for 6 nights on the deluxe meal plan. We opted for the deluxe because we wanted to take advantage of a couple of character dining and dining experiences that would require 2 table service credits.

15 meals that would have cost $1921.59 (gratuity not included)
4 refillable mugs that would have cost $61.96
Snacks that would have cost $161.88

Total: $2145.43

We paid $2014.32 for the meal plan

Savings: $131.11

We left with 4 meals unused on Saturday, so our savings could have been higher.

Our out of pocket spent on tips and a glass of wine at Le Cellier was $406.55.

Also, we used all of our snack credits. The morning we checked out I went to the gift shop and used the remaining on Mickey Rice Krispy treats and bags of Mickey shaped cheese crackers and pretzels. The kids are really enjoying these as a special treat in their camp lunches this week

I think if you're paying for the dining plan, you probably don't save much if anything. When I initially planned my trip, I booked thinking I'd be paying for it and felt it was for convenience--not needing to bring credit cards to the parks and putting gratuities to our room charge.

Though I do wish the dining plan had the option of appetizer OR dessert. I guess Disney realizes desserts cost less money. But that's a lot of junk food that I won't need. At least you walk a lot at WDW.

I was surprised to log on this morning and see this thread! I just got back from WDW on Saturday and spent an hour this morning totaling up our meals and snacks to see if it we "broke even" or not.

We were there for 6 nights on the deluxe meal plan. We opted for the deluxe because we wanted to take advantage of a couple of character dining and dining experiences that would require 2 table service credits.

15 meals that would have cost $1921.59 (gratuity not included)
4 refillable mugs that would have cost $61.96
Snacks that would have cost $161.88

Total: $2145.43

We paid $2014.32 for the meal plan

Savings: $131.11

We left with 4 meals unused on Saturday, so our savings could have been higher.

Our out of pocket spent on tips and a glass of wine at Le Cellier was $406.55.

Also, we used all of our snack credits. The morning we checked out I went to the gift shop and used the remaining on Mickey Rice Krispy treats and bags of Mickey shaped cheese crackers and pretzels. The kids are really enjoying these as a special treat in their camp lunches this week

So, all in all, the dining pan worked out for us.

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Savings: $131.11

Really? Be honest.

1. You ended up getting snacks to take home. Sure it is nice to have WDW snacks as a temporary momento, but those were more expensive than an equivalent snack you could buy at home. So how much extra did you spend there?

2. And would you have had all those TS meals? Sound like yes. But would you have ordered/eaten/drank all the appetizers, desserts, non-alocholic drinks, refillable mugs, etc.?

So please compare the cost of the DXP, plus tips, to what you would have ordered/spent if not on the plan, plus tips. Then you can see if there really was a savings.

I think if you're paying for the dining plan, you probably don't save much if anything. When I initially planned my trip, I booked thinking I'd be paying for it and felt it was for convenience--not needing to bring credit cards to the parks and putting gratuities to our room charge.

Though I do wish the dining plan had the option of appetizer OR dessert. I guess Disney realizes desserts cost less money. But that's a lot of junk food that I won't need. At least you walk a lot at WDW.

So in the complete boredom work has provided me this afternoon, I did a few "sample" families in terms of cost of using DDP vs. RO discount.

I did the following test cases and ran numbers at a moderate and deluxe resort with 6 day park hoppers for a 7 day 6 night stay:
2 adults
2 Disney adults 2 children
3 Disney adults 1 child
3 Disney adults 2 children (which didn't work for the mod because POR doesn't count for the RO discount so I was only able to do the math for the deluxe.

In ALL cases, using FD was less expensive than doing RO and adding DDP. The one thing I didn't factor in was how people would "really" eat (or how my family would choose to eat). Another project for another day. We are not doing DDP on our next trip because we want to do more TS restaurants and less CS locations, so my average per day food cost is probably elevated vs. the average consumer.

Using FD over RO + DDP saved somewhere between 5 and 25 percent dpending on the test family above (obviously, the bigger the family, the larger the savings as you're getting more per room with FD).

This actually surprised me. However, if you're going to do DDP while free dining is offered, you'd be silly not to take it based on the math. It always works out in your favor even with a 30% RO discount.

1. You ended up getting snacks to take home. Sure it is nice to have WDW snacks as a temporary momento, but those were more expensive than an equivalent snack you could buy at home. So how much extra did you spend there?

2. And would you have had all those TS meals? Sound like yes. But would you have ordered/eaten/drank all the appetizers, desserts, non-alocholic drinks, refillable mugs, etc.?

So please compare the cost of the DXP, plus tips, to what you would have ordered/spent if not on the plan, plus tips. Then you can see if there really was a savings.

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Being Honest:

Yes, I would have had all those table service meals - even without the dining plan. This is vacation. We work hard and saved all year so we could go on a nice vacation and enjoy it. Part of that is enjoying a nice sit down meal each day. The other part is indulging in things we normally don't have - like an appetizer or dessert. Truth be told, most meals we did not even partake in dessert (and the totals I posted above reflect that), so I still saved money.

And in regards to the snacks, what's the difference if I ate those snacks in Disney, or brought them home? The SMALL amount of things I brought home total about $9.00, so it's not like that's skewing my savings.

I compared apples to apples. I would have eaten in the same places regardless of if I had the dining plan or not. I would have ordered the same items (apps, desserts, etc.).

Yes, I would have had all those table service meals - even without the dining plan. This is vacation. We work hard and saved all year so we could go on a nice vacation and enjoy it. Part of that is enjoying a nice sit down meal each day. The other part is indulging in things we normally don't have - like an appetizer or dessert. Truth be told, most meals we did not even partake in dessert (and the totals I posted above reflect that), so I still saved money.

And in regards to the snacks, what's the difference if I ate those snacks in Disney, or brought them home? The SMALL amount of things I brought home total about $9.00, so it's not like that's skewing my savings.

I compared apples to apples. I would have eaten in the same places regardless of if I had the dining plan or not. I would have ordered the same items (apps, desserts, etc.).

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We do TS every day too, and order whatever we want as well. Glad it worked for you.

MikenandReneeplus5: Glad paying out of pocket worked for you!! I was wondering how it measured out. When I am using the dining plan , I defiantly want to get the most out ouf the plan so I would look at the menu with the attitude of what can I get to get the biggest bang out of my buck (or in the case of free dining, how much can I be ahead) I wondered how it worked out. Thanks for figuring it out for us

So please compare the cost of the DXP, plus tips, to what you would have ordered/spent if not on the plan, plus tips. Then you can see if there really was a savings.

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I don't think this is a fair comparison either. Whether I am on the DDP or paying OOP I want the steak, but if I am sitting there looking at the menu prices and paying OOP, I end up ordering the cheaper chicken or pasta.